James McMurtry

Safe Side

Down in Piedras Negras you gotta watch yourself

There's a whole lotta hungry people lookin to share some wealth

And when the oilfield's busted and the peso takes a dive

Stay off the side streets if you wanna come back alive

Yo no busca nada I'm just standin here

Mindin my own business, gonna get back outta here

Back to the safe side

And at the base of the barstool there's a drain in the floor

You better not go in there, if you don't know what that's for

It's no place to take your lady, she'll get the evil eye

Sizin up their prospects, sharpin up their knives

No me gusta nada, yo no queiro ver

Once I get across this river, never gonna go back there

Stayin on the safe side

Yo no fuma mota yo no quiero ver

Once I getacross this river, never gonna go back there

Up in San Antonio all the pretty people know

They better stay off of the west side where the black tar flows

They hide in their sheltered enclaves up around Olmos Park

They got their own policeman so they can stay out way past dark

Back down in Piedras Negras, the children play with dirt

We keep our pistols loaded so we don't get hurt

No importa a nadie, it's always been that way

Never gonna get no different, long as we got our say

Stay on the safe side

No me gusta nada, it's always been that way

Never gonna get no different long as we got our way

Stay on the safe side